Chapter 4 - Before the Wedding
Emily read the date twice.
Then a third time.
“This was signed before we were married.”
Samantha nodded.
Preston spoke quickly.
“It was preliminary paperwork.”
Emily looked up.
“With my forged signature?”
“You told me you trusted me.”
“I trusted you with my heart, Preston.”
Her voice cracked.
“Not my identity.”
Raymond took the document from her trembling hand.
“There are more.”
Preston’s shoulders stiffened.
Emily saw it.
“How many?”
Samantha answered carefully.
“We’ve found seven documents so far.”
Emily almost laughed.
“Seven.”
“Emily—”
“Don’t.”
Preston stopped.
Her baby shifted again.
She placed both hands over her stomach.
For years, she had thought Preston’s betrayal began with Vanessa.
Now she understood Vanessa might only be the newest layer.
“What did he use them for?”
Samantha turned one page.
“Credit guarantees.”
Another.
“Land acquisition.”
Another.
“Voting proxies.”
Emily stared at her.
“Voting proxies?”
Raymond’s jaw tightened.
“He was slowly trying to gain influence over your trust holdings.”
Preston snapped, “I was protecting the company.”
“From whom?” Emily asked.
He looked at her.
For the first time, some of his anger gave way to desperation.
“From your uncle.”
Raymond gave a humorless smile.
“Interesting.”
Preston pointed at him.
“You think he protected you all these years?”
Emily frowned.
“Stop.”
“No, Emily.”
Preston looked at her.
“He kept you ignorant.”
Raymond’s eyes hardened.
“Careful.”
“You never asked why you didn’t know what you owned?”
Emily went still.
Preston continued.
“Why would a man who loved you keep fifty-one percent of a billion-dollar medical system hidden?”
Emily looked at Raymond.
It was a cruel question.
Which was why it worked.
“Uncle Raymond?”
Raymond slowly sat.
“Your mother asked me to.”
“Why?”
“Because she didn’t want money shaping your life.”
“That doesn’t explain hiding it after I became an adult.”
“No.”
He looked tired suddenly.
“That part was my decision.”
Emily felt another piece of trust crack.
“You decided I shouldn’t know?”
“I decided you should have a chance to build a life without people knowing what you controlled.”
“People like Preston?”
Raymond said nothing.
Emily looked at her husband.
“You knew.”
Preston nodded.
“How?”
“My father knew.”
That surprised Raymond.
“Charles?”
Preston gave a bitter laugh.
“You really thought my father would sign away his hospital and never study the trust behind the acquisition?”
Emily felt sick.
“So when did you find out about me?”
Preston looked at the floor.
She already knew.
“Before we met?”
Silence.
Emily’s chest tightened.
“Before we met?”
“Yes.”
The word was barely audible.
Every memory rearranged itself.
The coffee shop where he had “accidentally” taken her order.
The white tulips.
The surprise trip to Ohio.
The proposal at her mother’s favorite lake.
“Was any of it real?”
Preston looked at her.
“Yes.”
She shook her head.
“Don’t.”
“It became real.”
Vanessa’s voice suddenly came from the hallway.
“Preston?”
Everyone turned.
Two police officers stood beside her.
Her white coat was gone.
Her face was pale.
One officer said, “Ms. Cross has asked to make a statement.”
Preston’s eyes widened.
“Vanessa, don’t say anything.”
She stared at him.
Something between them had changed.
Fear had replaced arrogance.
“I need a lawyer.”
“I’ll get you one.”
“No.”
She shook her head.
“I need one who works for me.”
Preston stepped toward her.
“Vanessa.”
She backed away.
Then she looked directly at Emily.
“He lied to me too.”
Emily felt no sympathy.
Vanessa swallowed.
“He said you were only still married because your uncle would destroy him in the divorce.”
Emily’s voice turned cold.
“And that made kicking me acceptable?”
Vanessa looked down.
“No.”
“Then why did you do it?”
Vanessa glanced at Preston.
“Because he told me you were trying to kill my baby.”
The room went silent.
Emily stared at her.
“Your what?”
Vanessa’s hand moved instinctively toward her abdomen.
Preston closed his eyes.
Vanessa whispered, “I’m pregnant.”
May you like
Then she looked at Emily.
“And Preston says the baby is his.”
